MLS4owners.com's exclusive Self Service Realty has helped Washingtonians close nearly $1 billion in sales since 2001.
There is a difference between a For Sale By Owner and a listed unrepresented seller. Once listed, in most cases a property appears to brokers and the public websites of local real estate brokerages identically regardless of who is the listing brokerage. Some sellers want to have representation, and they pay for that service. Some sellers want to represent themselves, and they pay less. Each seller's needs are different, as are each buyer's. Our customers have closed over $1 billion in sales. Agents from more than 500 different brokerages have represented buyers in their purchases of those properties, and they use the same statewide purchase and sale forms to present the offers regardless of who listed the property. While full service representation is a great way to go for many people, sellers who retain a limited service broker have more price flexibility, which can result in a win for the seller, a win for the buyer, and a win for the buyer's agent. When the biggest obstacle to closing a sale is getting an appraised value to match the agreed-upon purchase price, these savings can be even more important. Ken Whitney MLS4owners.com
Unfortunately for Trulia (which in many cases does not get its information from multiple listing services), their study is consistent with the results of NAR's Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers. The best (and most common) ways for serious ready-willing-and-able buyers to find accurate information about homes for sale are to visit the public websites of local real estate brokerages or their local multiple listing service, or to contact a local real estate broker. Ken Whitney MLS4owners.com
Flat fee has been a viable option for the last 10 years in the Pacific Northwest and many other parts of the country. It's great that consumers have broadening choices with a wide range of service options. Our customers are wrapping up their first billion in sales, and it will be interesting to see what the next decade brings. Ken Whitney MLS4owners.com
